The owner of an Albuquerque restaurant known for its barbecue spoke to Action 7 News after receiving a red sticker.The Albuquerque Environmental Health Department checked out Pepper's Ole Fashion BBQ at 303 Sand Pedro NE after someone complained about grease overflowing to the curb.Inspectors said the restaurant's sinks, counter tops, storage shoves and microwaves were heavily soiled. They also said cooked rice was not held at proper temperatures and food, including turkey, was not marked with proper expiration dates.Inspectors also reported a hazard of sewage and water waste backing up into the restaurant. They considered that an imminent health hazard and ordered the restaurant to close until the issues were fixed.Owner Daniel Morgan said the recent storms were partly to blame."Our sewer actually runs from the restaurant to the street, and in the back of our restaurant we have 40-gallon bins. And those bins were receiving water that was rolling off the roof and trickling onto the curb and down the street," Morgan said.Morgan said the grease trap was a separate issue."My grease trap actually exploded the day before (the inspector) came. And when she came, I was actually working on it. Unbeknownst to me, the grease trap is about 40 years old, and we replaced the whole system," Morgan said.Morgan also offered an explanation for some of the other violations."From time to time, we may have something that's too hot, or we may have something that's too cold, but what we do is we try to rectify those problems on site," Morgan said.Inspectors also said the restaurant was operating without a valid permit and gave it five days to pay past-due fees.After a re-inspection, Pepper's is now in compliance and has a green sticker.MOBILE USERS: Tap here for video

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

The owner of an Albuquerque restaurant known for its barbecue spoke to Action 7 News after receiving a red sticker.

Inspectors said the restaurant's sinks, counter tops, storage shoves and microwaves were heavily soiled. They also said cooked rice was not held at proper temperatures and food, including turkey, was not marked with proper expiration dates.

Inspectors also reported a hazard of sewage and water waste backing up into the restaurant. They considered that an imminent health hazard and ordered the restaurant to close until the issues were fixed.

Owner Daniel Morgan said the recent storms were partly to blame.

"Our sewer actually runs from the restaurant to the street, and in the back of our restaurant we have 40-gallon bins. And those bins were receiving water that was rolling off the roof and trickling onto the curb and down the street," Morgan said.

Morgan said the grease trap was a separate issue.

"My grease trap actually exploded the day before (the inspector) came. And when she came, I was actually working on it. Unbeknownst to me, the grease trap is about 40 years old, and we replaced the whole system," Morgan said.

Morgan also offered an explanation for some of the other violations.

"From time to time, we may have something that's too hot, or we may have something that's too cold, but what we do is we try to rectify those problems on site," Morgan said.

Inspectors also said the restaurant was operating without a valid permit and gave it five days to pay past-due fees.

After a re-inspection, Pepper's is now in compliance and has a green sticker.